One of the
biggest hurdles
third party and independent presidential candidates face is qualifying
for the ballot in the 50 states. Each state has its own set of
rules,
and these rules often tend to favor the Democratic and Republican
candidates. Ballot
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"Hey! How
about us?"

Ultra-Longshot
Candidates

Anyone can run
for President,
provided he or she meets the criteria set out in Article II of the
Constitution.
While an eclectic mix of more than 100 people filed with the Federal
Election
Commission to run for president, most of these individuals have dropped
out of the race. (A favored strategy of some ultra-longshot candidates
is to mount a campaign in the New Hampshire primary, where it is
relatively
easy to get on the ballot). Nonetheless heading into the general
election, one may occasionaly meet the odd individual handing out a
business
card or flyer proclaiming that he or she is a "Write-In Candidate for
President."
There are also a number of very small parties that run
candidates.
The advent of the Web makes it easier for longshot candidates to get
their
messages to voters across the country. In practical terms,
however,
most of the longshots are unknowns, who have not held elective office
and
who have very limited resources to devote to their campaigns.
They
do not have the wherewithal to get their names on the ballot or put
together
slates of electors.